Online Course Claim-Check Worksheet

Use with Choosing an Online Course: The Claims Worth Verifying Before You Pay.

Course being considered: __________

Claim 1: Accreditation

• Accrediting body named on the course page: __________
• Checked directly on that body’s own public registry? (Y/N): __________
• Result: __________

Claim 2: Refund policy

• Actual refund window (from the terms page, not the headline): __________
• Conditions or exclusions: __________
• Date I checked this policy: __________

Claim 3: Instructor credentials

• Instructor name and claimed background: __________
• Independent source checked (LinkedIn / employer page / faculty directory): __________
• Matches the course page’s description? (Y/N, notes): __________

Claim 4: Outcome statistics

• Stated statistic: __________
• Methodology disclosed? (Y/N): __________
• Provider’s response when asked directly about methodology: __________

Red flags to weigh before paying

• Accreditation claimed from a body that does not list this specific program
• Refund policy materially narrower than the marketing headline implied
• Instructor credentials could not be independently confirmed
• Outcome statistic has no disclosed methodology and the provider would not explain it when asked

Reminder

Do not trust an AI tool’s unverified opinion on whether a specific course is legitimate. Use AI only to extract and organize the claims — verify each one against its own primary source.